I would like to draw your attention to some important pest management news:
Spotted-Wing Drosophila and Grapes?
There has been some increasing concern over the Spotted Wing Drosophila (fruit fly) that is attacking ripening berries across the state. An update is now posted on the OSU Viticulture & Enology website at http://wine.oregonstate.edu/node/232. Please read the pest alert for more information.
At this current time, we do not believe that it has become a large problem in grape, but it has been found in other berry crops. As berries begin to ripen this season, and breakage begins to occur, we may find this fruit fly causing some problems. Our entomologists, Amy Dreves and Vaughn Walton, are keeping their eye out for the problem in grapes among other crops.
Mealybugs and Grapevine Leafroll Virus Update
On this same Vineyard Pest Management News page of the OSU Viticulture & Enology website website, you can also find the new mealybug and Grapevine Leafroll Virus monitoring bulletins produced by the Oregon Mealybug and Leaf Roll Task Force. A Spanish version will be released shortly and will be available on this site.
Pheromone traps have been distributed across the state’s growing regions and results will be available upon collection and analysis of those traps for identification of which mealybugs may be causing concern. To date, we have mainly been finding grape mealybug, and not the most invasive species, vine mealybug.
Stay tuned for more information in the OSU Viticulture & Enology Newsletter in October!